Charita Goshay: Susan Boyle dared to dream, and her dream is coming true

Thursday

Apr 23, 2009 at 12:01 AMApr 23, 2009 at 10:01 PM

The fact that Susan Boyle is not an underdressed, talent-challenged pop tart but rather an honest-to-God singer makes her newly minted stardom all the more wondrous and satisfying.

Charita Goshay

In this age of Botox, spray tans and nonstop sexual imagery, Susan Boyle probably wouldn’t earn a double-take in church.

A never-married woman who lives with her cat in a Scottish village, Boyle looks like the type of woman people might envision when they hear the lyrics to “Eleanor Rigby.”

The fact that is she not an underdressed, talent-challenged pop tart but rather an honest-to-God singer makes her newly minted stardom all the more wondrous and satisfying.

By now, you’ve probably seen the video clip of Boyle, a 47-year-old long-shot performing before gobsmacked judges on “Britain’s Got Talent,” the UK’s forerunner to “American Idol.”

We know now that Boyle’s unfashionable style and preternaturally pleasant demeanor masked a steely determination. So much so, she didn’t even flinch when many in the audience took one look at her and laughed out loud at her wish to become a professional singer. Boyle even was naive enough to admit publicly to the show’s hosts that not only is she single, but she’s also never even been kissed.

But don’t kid yourself. Boyle’s decision to perform “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical drama “Les Miserables” was no random act of hope. Rather, it was brilliant calculation by a singer who used her physical shortcomings to help her deliver an empathetic plea for fairness.

The fact she did it so well was of surprise only to the people who pre-judged Boyle’s talent on her looks — namely, everyone.

Before Boyle even could complete her first measure, the very same people who lacked even the basic decency not to scoff at someone else’s dream were seen crying and cheering for the object of their derision.

The obvious lesson Boyle presents to us is that we should avoid judging a book by its cover. But the fact is we all do it, don’t we?

We automatically assume that the kid in the throwback jersey is the criminal, while the man carrying the briefcase can’t possibly be, though recent events suggest we might want to rethink that theory.

There was nothing at all about Boyle’s appearance that suggested star power, charisma or even talent. She embodies what most of us envision when we hear the word “wallflower.”

Before Boyle was given her moment in the sun, you have to wonder how many people passed her by, assuming she had nothing of beauty or interest to offer the world.

How often, how many people do we write off on any given day, using the same yardstick?

We all can’t be Leonardo da Vinci or Nelson Mandela, but I’m a firm believer that everyone possesses some measure of talent, something of worth that could make the world a better place, if just given the chance.

Perhaps that’s why Boyle’s story resonates with us. She’s every person who has been discouraged, ignored, bullied and devalued.

Boyle’s fairy tale also challenges us to take another look at who we value in our culture and why. Despite repeated evidence to the contrary, we just assume that the beautiful people among us are more talented, interesting and intelligent.

If anybody deserves her 15 minutes, it is Susan Boyle. Here’s hoping hers lasts a lifetime.

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